Turn the Board Into Your Color
Othello is a classic strategy board game played with black and white discs on an 8 by 8 board. Two players take turns placing pieces. The goal is simple. You need more discs showing your color than your opponent has when the game ends.
The board starts with four discs in the middle. Each player controls one color. A legal move must trap at least one opponent disc between the piece you just placed and another piece of your own color.
Flip Your Opponent’s Pieces
The most important part of Othello is flipping discs. You can trap pieces horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Every opponent disc caught in that straight line changes to your color.
One move can sometimes flip pieces in several directions at once. This can make the board change quickly. A player who appears to have fewer pieces can take the lead after a few smart moves.
You cannot place a disc anywhere you want. Every move needs to capture at least one opposing piece. When you have no legal move, your turn passes to the other player.
Think Carefully About the Corners
Corners are especially useful in Othello. A disc placed in a corner cannot get surrounded and flipped. From there, you may also build a safer row of pieces along the edge.
This creates an interesting choice. Taking lots of pieces early can look good, but it may give your opponent better spaces later. Protecting useful positions often matters more than having the highest count during the first part of the game.
Finish With the Most Discs
Othello ends when neither player can make another legal move. This often happens when the board fills up, although a game can finish earlier. The player with the most discs showing their color wins. An equal number creates a draw.
Othello has simple rules, but every move changes the choices available next. Watching the corners, avoiding risky spaces, and thinking about future moves can make a big difference.